Representation by Diana Cox
- Date submitted
- 7 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I would like to voice my objection to the proposed cargo hub at Manston airport. I live in central Ramsgate under the flight path less than 3km from the runway. I understand that planes would fly less than 200 metres above my house. Ramsgate is a seaside town of approx. 40,000 residents in one of the poorest parts of the country. What is proposed is completely out of scale for an area of this kind, on a peninsula away from major transport links. Manston is 59 miles from the M25. The closest motorway, the M2, 30 miles away, has two lanes only which are completely inadequate for the volume of fuel tankers and freight lorries that would be required for the cargo hub to function. If this proposal were to go ahead, it would be a disaster for my business which I have run here for the past 3 years. My business is as a teacher and practitioner of complementary therapy, providing a service to local residents. Clients come for a peaceful de-stressing experience which would no longer be available with low-flying flights day and night. Many people travel from out of the area, including from London, for my services, spending money in the local economy whilst here. Some stay in the town for a seaside break from city life. I also provide Skype consultations, which I would be unable to continue as the overhead noise would make conversation impossible. My business would be completely unviable if the proposed cargo hub were to go ahead, enforcing business closure and relocation, if I was able to sell my house. On a personal level, I am extremely concerned about the effects of the noise vibration and pollution on my health and well-being. Like many, I moved to this area of natural beauty with its rich architectural heritage for a more peaceful life and this peace would be completely shattered. In the time since I first came to Ramsgate 5 years ago, I have seen a real change and signs of regeneration as people have moved into the area and growth in tourism here has outstripped the rest of the country. The change in the town is palpable, with café culture thriving, especially around our beautiful harbour. Over this time, our local schools have been making great improvements, improving children’s life chances in this neglected area – if the cargo hub were to go ahead, children’s education as well as health would be impacted. Many state that the airport would provide much-needed employment in this deprived area. However, the current owners have a track-record in providing employment at the Discovery Park in Sandwich. Their planned mixed use site would provide much-needed local jobs as well as housing in the local area to help meet need and government targets for the area. Coupled with the loss in jobs in tourism and from local self-employed like myself, any job gains in aviation (not clearly outlined by the applicants) would be more than offset by the loss of existing jobs in the area and the lost potential from the site’s current owners.